Let the fun and enterainment begin anew

Thursday

Jul 4, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Dylan Morrilldmorrill@fosters.com

DOVER — Music, fun, and good vibes will once again take over Dover for six weeks as the 27th annual Cochecho Arts Festival plans to soon rev up its engines and provide area residents with another summer of non-stop entertainment.

The annual festival, which is completely free all summer long, offers different shows every Tuesday through Thursday. Area residents can simply look to Dover to find a guaranteed great time all summer long. The streets near the Rotary Arts Pavilion at Henry Law Park will be flooded with dancing, smiles, and great music for the next six weeks.

The festival, which is now a Seacoast tradition, started after the Dover Chamber of Commerce accepted the challenge of matching an anonymous donation to create a downtown music festival in 1987. Ever since then, the Dover Chamber of Commerce has been running the massive festival every summer.

The 2013 Cochecho Arts Festival will bring the same caliber of talented musicians and entertainers to the Seacoast. You don't want to miss out on any of this year's four weekly series of shows!

On Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. the Liberty Mutual Children Series will provide diverse shows for children. On Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. the 2013 Farmer's Market Series will rock the city during the Dover Farmers Market at the Dover Chamber of Commerce. On Thursday's at 12 p.m. the Shark in the Park Series will have live classic rock bands, and on Friday the legendary Headliner Series of concerts will once again get thousands of Dover residents dancing with their friends and loved ones in the summer twilight. The opening acts at the Headliner Series concerts will go on at 6 p.m. and the main act will go on at 7 p.m. All shows, except the shows in the Farmers Market Series, will take place at the Rotary Arts Pavilion at Henry Law Park.

There is almost too much stuff to do! Don't miss out on the 24 completely free, completely amazing, events happening in downtown Dover right now.

Michael Mengers, community events manager for the Dover Chamber of Commerce, expects the turnout this year to be as big as it ever has been.

“On any given Friday night you'll see a thousand people out at the park,” said Mengers.

The best part? You don't need to buy tickets. All events are 100 percent free. To get a good seat, people are encouraged to simply show up early and place blankets or chairs down wherever they plan on sitting.

Can't afford food at concerts? That's fine. Anyone can bring whatever food they want to any of the concerts. If you want to bring a four-course meal for your whole extended family, go ahead! Bring whatever you want. There is no need to spend any money. However, there will be food vendors for those who prefer to buy food.

Thirty-five local businesses and organizations have contributed, in one way or another, to the making of this year's Cochecho Arts Festival.

“Basically the Chamber of Commerce organizes it all,” said Mengers. “But it's the sponsors that make it all possible. Each of the shows has its own sponsor and each series of shows also has its own sponsor.

“Without the generous support of these sponsors we would not be able to provide this free summer-long festival,” said the festival's website.

So what are you waiting for? Get your friends, get your significant other, get your kids, and come enjoy great free entertainment in New Hampshire's oldest city.

For more information and schedules, visit http://www.cochechoartsfestival.org/